Shazia Khawaja
Srinagar: has undergone a complete facelift in preparation for the G20 meeting, which will be
held at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake
from 22 to 25 May, 2023 and in New Delhi in September 2023. The Sheikh-ul-Alam
International Airport has been adorned with rows of lamps illuminated in the green, white, and
orange colors of the Indian national flag. The roads have been realigned, streets and flyovers
have been painted, and locals have been advised to paint their facades peach and white in line
with the themes of the G20 Summit. Unnecessary barricades have been removed from the roads,
and bunkers have been painted to create an appearance of harmony in the disputed territory of
Jammu and Kashmir.However, there is more to this story than meets the eye. In fact, it is a
deceitful act by India to cover up the grim situation in its illegally occupied territory. India's
contradictory actions raise important questions. For instance, why are there barricades on the
roads under normal circumstances? Why have more troops been deployed when the valley is
already flooded with millions of troops and paramilitary forces? And why are people being
detained and killed for demanding their rights on their own land, if the decision to revoke Article
370 was truly in favor of the people and land of Kashmir? India portrays the G20 summit in
Kashmir as an effort to promote economic growth, development, peace, and prosperity in the
region. India is deceiving not only the people of Kashmir but also the international community.
Pakistan and China have opposed India's decision to hold the G20 summit in Srinagar. The
leaders and representatives of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference have also expressed their
discontentment, as India is continuously making unilateral decisions and using its power tactics
on the people of Kashmir, regardless of the choices and demands of the Kashmiri people. Indian
police and troops are arresting and harassing people to restrict their movement ahead of the G20
meeting.Pakistan has consistently supported the right to self-determination of the people of
Kashmir, while India is continuously suppressing their rights through the use of force and
committing war crimes. The situation in Kashmir has intensified since the revocation of Article
370 and 35A, with India using force to cover it up. Pakistan's Foreign Office has criticized the
G20 meeting in Srinagar, stating that India's agenda for its own benefits and it has nothing to do
with the people of Kashmir. Moreover, it’s the violations of United Nations Security Council
resolutions and the principles of international laws.The fact that the G20 nations are holding their
meeting in a disputed territory that has been a flashpoint for almost seven decades, and where
people are demanding their right to self-determination, is concerning. This negligence by the
most powerful nations towards one of the most militarized and disputed areas in the world has
disappointed the people of Kashmir. They are seeking justice from the international community,
particularly those working for human rights. The approval of the meeting could also be seen as
encouragement for India to continue its settler colonialism and serious human rights violations in
the occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir.The Modi-led government's agenda for the G20
summit is to showcase normalcy in Kashmir and downplay ongoing human rights violations.
However, this summit will not bring stability or benefits to the people of Kashmir; rather, it is
India's attempt to profit from the people and resources of Kashmir. India claims to work on
growth and development in different sectors with G20 nations for peace and prosperity, but it is
paralyzing the people of Kashmir from their basic rights on their own land. Despite claiming to
be a democratic and multilateral country, India is suppressing the voices of Muslim leaders and
representatives of occupied Kashmir.One of the aims of G20 nations is women's empowerment,
but Indian authorities and troops have used rape as a war crime in Jammu and Kashmir. Digital
development is also listed in the agenda, but the record of internet power cuts in Indian-occupied
Kashmir was 58% for the year 2022. Freedom of speech has become taboo in Kashmir, as many
journalists and human rights defenders are behind bars facing false charges against them. India,
the self-proclaimed biggest democracy, does not even conform to the protocols of the most
powerful alliance of G20. Similarly, India has been continuously violating dozens of resolutions
of the United Nations Security Council on Kashmir. The people of Kashmir are passionate and
resilient, and their voices cannot be silenced. Their struggle for freedom and justice cannot be
obstructed. The powerful nations should exert pressure on the Indian government to withdraw
their troops and put an end to human rights violations in Kashmir. The Security Council must
hold Indian authorities accountable for their non-conformance with resolutions on Kashmir. The
international community must stand in solidarity with the people of Kashmir and work towards
peace and stability in the region.